Court grants fresh 3-day remand for Lt Gen (retd) Masud Uddin in July Uprising murder case

A Dhaka court has placed Lieutenant General (retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury – a controversial figure associated with the "1/11" period – on a fresh three-day remand for questioning in a murder case filed over a killing during the July Uprising.

The order was passed today (4 May) by the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasib Ullah Piyas following a hearing.

Earlier in the day, the investigation officer of the case, Sub-Inspector Md Habib Ullah of the Detective Branch, Mirpur Division, submitted an application seeking a five-day remand to interrogate the accused in custody.

According to the application, preliminary investigation has found sufficient evidence indicating the involvement of the arrested suspect, Masud Uddin, in the incident.

It said that custodial interrogation is needed to find out what really happened, identify others involved and gather more details.

During the hearing, the investigation officer told the court that, on the instructions of accused Masud Uddin Chowdhury, the other accused opened fire to suppress the movement, resulting in the death of Biplob Sheikh.

He also said that evidence of the accused's involvement has been found in the preliminary investigation and sought a five-day remand to identify others involved in the incident.

Appearing for the prosecution, lawyer Harun-or-Rashid argued in favour of the remand, saying that the accused was involved in the incident and was a key figure during the 1/11 period.

He alleged that the accused, along with others, had tortured current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and forced him into exile, and had extended all forms of support to sustain Sheikh Hasina in power.

He urged the court to grant the maximum remand to ensure a proper investigation and to identify those who supplied arms and funds in the case.

Defence counsel Umme Habiba opposed the remand petition, arguing that the accused was not named in the first information report of the case.

She also submitted that he is a former MP and is physically unwell, and therefore sought cancellation of the remand.

After hearing both sides, the court granted a three-day remand.

According to the case statement, a person named Delwar Hossain was shot during an attack on protesters in the capital's Mirpur-10 area on 19 July 2024.

The accused allegedly opened fire from different directions during the protest. 

Delwar, who took part in the movement, sustained critical bullet injuries and was first taken to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases before being shifted to a private hospital in Shyamoli, where he died while undergoing treatment on 21 July that year.

The victim's wife, Mosammat Liza, filed the murder case with Mirpur Model Police Station on 6 July 2025.

Masud Uddin was arrested in the capital's Baridhara area on 23 March.

The following day, the court granted a five-day remand, followed by six separate remand orders totalling 25 days prior to the latest order.